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The following statement was issued today by Assistant Attorney General Joel I.
Klein
regarding his planned departure from the Department of Justice:

"I have advised the Attorney General that I am planning to leave the Department at
the
end of September. It has been a tremendous honor to serve with Attorney General Reno and the
outstanding men and women of the Antitrust Division. I am enormously grateful to President
Clinton for giving me this opportunity. My five and a half years with the Division have been
extraordinarily gratifying, but the time has come to seek new challenges. I have done what I set
out to do here, and our work is on the right track.

"I am delighted that Doug Melamed has been selected to be Acting Assistant Attorney
General. He has been my Principal Deputy throughout my tenure, and he is an exceptional
lawyer and outstanding public servant."

The following statement was issued today by Attorney General Janet Reno on Mr.
Klein's
announcement:

"Joel Klein has been a champion for America's consumers. He has fought tirelessly for
marketplace competition, and Americans have enjoyed better products, more choices, and lower
prices as a result. With his extraordinary legal skill, expert knowledge, and keen judgment, Joel
has led the Antitrust Division to a remarkable record of accomplishment during this time of
historic change in the global economy. He has always called them as he saw them, looking out
for what's best for America's consumers. He has been on their side all along, and I am so
grateful he's been at my side for the last five years.

"With Doug Melamed assuming the post of Acting Assistant Attorney General, I know
the Division will be in excellent hands."